Why parasites put your dog and family at risk

By Elanco ADVERTORIAL| 1 year ago

Image: Getty

It’s no secret that Aussies love their dogs — in fact, two out of five households across the nation count canines as part of the family1.
And with summer on the way, we can all look forward to more and more days spent bonding with our loved ones (dogs included).
That’s almost certainly going to mean lots of furry hugs and maybe a lick or two right to the face — which has become an accepted part of dog ownership.
But what you might not realise is that even the cleanest dogs out there can harbour some pretty nasty parasites (including a few that’ll make kids and adults very sick).
That’s why it’s important to keep on top of your dog’s health — for them and for us.

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What can dogs catch?

The five ‘nasties’ that dog-owners need to watch out for are:Paralysis ticks: If your dog is exhibiting signs of weakness or uncoordination, difficulty breathing, vomiting or retching, a tick could be the cause and needs to be seen by a vet ASAP.Fleas: Annoying for animals (and their owners), fleas need to be treated promptly or they could lead to inflammation, hair loss, and secondary skin infections.Heartworm: A bite from a mosquito carrying heartworm larvae can infect dogs with adult heartworm., These worms live in a dog’s lungs and heart and can cause serious, life-threatening illness. Treating heartworm infection in your dog can be expensive and dangerous so prevention is always better than cure. Intestinal worms: Hunting and eating small critters like rats and lizards, ingesting contaminated animal faeces or water or eating infected meat can all cause intestinal worms in a dog.Tapeworm: Two types of tapeworm a dog can get are flea tapeworm and hydatid tapeworm, which can both spread to humans. Young children are particularly at risk.

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Why is tapeworm so dangerous?

One of the most common types of tapeworm that infects dogs in Australia is the flea tapeworm, which can live in your dog’s intestines and grow up to 30cm long. They can shed segments into the environment — or pass out entire tapeworms in their droppings.
Hydatid tapeworm, more common in rural areas, is a bigger concern as it can cause serious disease in humans. Again, this type of tapeworm lives in the dog’s intestinal tract and lays eggs which are shed into the environment via the dog’s droppings.
If ingested accidentally by a curious toddler — or an adult who may have had contact with a dog and not washed their hands — the disease can be life-threatening, with large, fluid-filled cysts forming in various organs such as the liver and lungs. Symptoms can take a while to present, and in serious cases, require surgery to treat.

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Three ways to protect your dog and your family

Practice good hygiene: Teach your kids to always wash their hands after playing with the family pet and not to let the dog lick their face, which helps to minimise the risk of passing on any flea or hydatid tapeworm segments or eggs.Dispose of your dog’s droppings: It’s easy to forget sometimes, but making this a habit is a great way to remove the flea and hydatid tapeworm segments or eggs from your environment, which lessens the risk of your family becoming infected.Regularly de-worm your dog: You want a product that contains the active ingredient praziquantel, which kills adult flea and hydatid tapeworm living in your dog’s intestinal tract.
The BIG 5 Protection Pack is an easy-to-administer product which protects against the five major parasites in dogs. Visit www.thebigfive.com.au for more information on keeping your dog and your family pest-free this summer!

• Read the enclosed InterceptorTM Spectrum and CredelioTM leaflets for full instructions